PrescribingServices

www.pans.ns.ca

PHARMACY ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA

170 Cromarty Drive | Suite 225Dartmouth | Nova Scotia

Canada | B3B 0G1

Phone: 1.902.422.9583 Fax: 1.902.422.2619

Email: pans@pans.ns.ca

Pharmacists can assess and prescribe for many conditions, including cold sores,allergies and skin conditions.

Every day pharmacists help

people by assessing and prescribing

for many common ailments.

prescribing services. Assessment and injection fees and vaccine costs may now be covered by your health plan.

What’s in it for me?Untreated conditions can interfere with work and home activities and could lead to a more serious situation. Most pharmacies are open evenings and weekends. This often means you can access care outside of work hours when it is convenient for you.

How long does it take? Typically, it will take 10-20 minutes for the assessment.

Prescription Renewals Have you run out of refills and can’t get in to see your doctor? Your pharmacist can do an assessment and if appropriate, can prescribe refills for up to 180 days. Note: Pharmacists cannot write prescriptions for narcotics or controlled medications.

Therapeutic SubstitutionIf there is a medication that is in the same family of drugs as the one you take, is less expensive, or less likely to cause you a side effect, your pharmacist can perform an assessment. If appropriate, your pharmacist can prescribe another drug in the same family.

Prescribing Preventative Medicines A pharmacist can assess and prescribe medication to prevent malaria when traveling, as well as many vaccines to prevent conditions such as hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, shingles,

chicken pox, and HPV disease. Some pharmacists have additional certification which allows them to assess and prescribe vaccines such as yellow fever, rabies and Japanese encephalitis as well as preventative medications for conditions such as travelers’ diarrhea and altitude illness.

Minor or Common Ailments Can’t get into see your doctor? No time to wait in a walk-in clinic? Currently there are many conditions that your pharmacist can assess and determine if you would benefit from a prescription drug. • Allergies• Menstrual Cramps• Calluses and Corns• Mild Acne• Cold Sores• Mild Bites, Stings and Hives• Skin Conditions Due to Allergic Reactions• Mild Headaches• Coughs• Mild To Moderate Eczema• Dandruff• Minor Muscle and Joint Pain• Dry Eyes• Minor Sleep Disorders• Hemorrhoids• Nausea• Impetigo• Non-Infectious Diarrhea• Indigestion/Heart Burn• Oral Ulcers• Nasal Congestion and Sore Throats• Skin Fungal Infections Such as Athlete’s Foot• Oral Thrush• Threadworms and Pinworms• Yeast Infections• Warts

Emergency PrescribingIf you have a medical emergency, you should proceed to the nearest emergency department. In rare circumstances, when another health care provide cannot be accessed, a pharmacist may be able to prescribe an emergency medication.

AdaptationsYour pharmacist may modify the dose, length of treatment and directions of your prescription to ensure you have the most effective treatment.

InjectionsA pharmacist can prescribe and inject the following:• Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine• Hepatitis A and B Vaccine• Typhoid Fever Vaccine• Varicella (Chicken Pox) Vaccine• Meningococcal Disease Vaccine• Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine• Typhoid Fever Vaccine• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine• Measles, Mumps and Rubella

(MMR) Vaccine• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis

(Tdap) Vaccine• B12• Additional travel vaccinations such as yellow fever, rabies, Japanese encephalitis may be provided by pharmacists with additional certification

In all prescribing situations, pharmacists will complete an assessment to ensure the prescription is appropriate. The pharmacist will notify your family doctor when they provide any

Pharmacists are authorized to assess and

prescribe medications in many situations.

The assessment fees and prescriptions may be covered

by your plan.